The female Red-bellied Woodpecker has only a red patch on the nape of her neck, whereas the male has red over the top of his head from the bill to the nape. How this woodpecker came by its name is unknown to me, supposedly there is a small area of a reddish tinge on their belly..
The female Northern Cardinal is a dull red-brown shade in contrast to the males's vibrant red.
Even if the girls lack in the color show, they're shinning in their behavior!
Definitely more sharing than one usually sees among males. I've read that in some species (Dark-eyed Juncos, for examples), the females as a group usually migrate farther south just so they won't have to contend with the males' piggish table manners during the winter.
ReplyDeleteThey are so beautiful! You are so lucky to be able to live near so many amazing birds! Thanks for sharing the pics!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! I love the three spikes in the cardinals 'hair' and the stripes on the tail of the woodpecker are beautiful. Now if these two female birds would come set an example of 'getting along' to some of the women in my garden club, that would be great.
ReplyDeletethe wanna be country girl- Caroline
gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. Stop by Dia Designs http://diadesigns1.blogspot.com/ I recently did a post called Saturday Squirrels I think you will enjoy. My photos aren't as good as yours but I still think you will appreciate it.
Hope to hear from you.
What a great shot! I find birds really difficult to photograph and you caught two sharing a meal is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteAmazing picture!!!! How did you capture it?
ReplyDeleteWell they sure are nice neighbors Rebecca! Yes there is a light patch of red under the bellies of the Red-bellied!! If you're lucky, which I think you must be, you can catch it in a photo!
ReplyDeleteVery nice photo! My kids have made those pine-cone feeders too and the birds devour them. Thanks for sharing at Bird Photography Weekly!
ReplyDeleteOh dear Rebecca, what WONDERFUL photos. I love them and I read your posting about chickens on the other site. Loved what you said and YES, I do think eggs from your own flock taste ten times better than store bought.
ReplyDeleteLet's keep in touch!! I'm following you now so I don't lose you in blog land.
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
Great photos and nice to see two birds on the one feeder.
ReplyDeleteThese are super captures of the Northern Cardinal and Red-bellied Woodpecker at the same suet feeder Rebecca. I have always thought that the female Cardinal is prettier than the male and of course, most female birds have much better manners than the males, except maybe at nesting time when they all get a bit crazy!
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE it when they share :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful image you captured!